Bio to follow

Ext: 52086
Email: matt.atkin@manchester.ac.uk
Office: G3, Christies Building

An alumnus of both UMIST and the Alliance Manchester Business School, Matt joined the University in 2016as Director of Planning with responsibility for developing the new vision and strategic plan for the University, analytics and reporting, and oversight of the strategic change portfolio. Prior to joining the University, Matt worked in the financial services industry for 20 years in a range of transformation, mergers and acquisitions and operational roles, leading a range of functions including planning and performance, self-service banking and supply chain management.

The Directorate provides a range of services to support the delivery of the University’s vision and strategic plan. These include:

• facilitating the creation of the vision and 5 year strategic plan
• oversight and assurance across the strategic change portfolio of our critical projects
• Leadership of the virtual team of MI analysts across the University to ensure collaboration, consistency and prioritisation
• provision of statutory data to agencies such as the OFS, particularly in relation to student numbers
• running the annual accountability cycle including secretariat to Planning and Resources Committee (PRC), managing the Annual Performance Review Process (APR), Maintaining the University Performance Dashboard for the Board and producing 12 months operating plans.

These are University-wide activities and the Directorate works closely with planning, change, analysis and finance colleagues in the three Faculties in order to join up with local Faculty and School planning matters.

Ext: 55798
Email: david.barker@manchester.ac.uk
Office: John Owens Building 2.006

The current priorities for the Directorate of Compliance and Risk include ensuring that the University is compliant in all aspects of its operations, rolling out a new electronic process for the Disclosure & Barring Service and further development of the University’s risk management processes.

David also leads on the University's Emergency Incident planning and management processes and the University's response to the Prevent (and broader safeguarding agenda.  

Following a PhD in marine biology, David joined North West Water’s four year graduate general management programme, during which he also completed a postgraduate general management degree. He was part of the team that worked on the merger of NWW and Norweb to create United Utilities, spent time seconded to Manila Water in the Philippines (setting up a joint venture and developing what become the national management information system) and finished his career in the water industry in a clean water asset management role.

David joined The University of Manchester in 1999 as Development Officer in the then School of Biological Sciences.  He helped deliver core skills training to postgraduate biologists and then went on to be the first School Manager, which was a precursor to the new role of Head of Faculty Administration. Following three years as Head of Faculty Administration, responsible for all support services in the Faculty of Life Sciences, David took up his current role. Early on in this new role, David led the University’s response to the so-called 'Rutherford Review', which subsequently ran for some five years.

Email:kate.cambden@manchester.ac.uk
Ext: 52213
Office: John Owens Building 1.024

As Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Kate is responsible for generating income and volunteers to support the University’s core goals. This is achieved by developing meaningful and genuine relationships with our alumni and supporters, underpinned by inspiring engagement programmes, communications and events. The Division will raise £150m of philanthropic income over five years to 2020/21 and build a community of 7,300 volunteers by 2020/21.

Kate has been Director of Development and Alumni Relations since March 2016, and has 18 years’ experience in fundraising and communications. She originally joined the University as our first Head of Philanthropy for health in 2012 from cancer charity Bloodwise where she had worked for over ten years – latterly as Director for Fundraising. Kate studied at the University of Nottingham and Cass Business School.

Ext: 63769
Email: catherine.grills@manchester.ac.uk
Office: Sackville Street Building B1

Catherine has had a fantastic journey throughout her time within the University, working in various roles since 2001, when she started in the Planning team at UMIST and has moved through various leadership roles within School, Faculty, and central directorates. Catherine has also supported a wide range of transformation projects including the design and delivery of MECD, SEP, the FSE restructure, cross-school Timetabling, and the Leading Change Development Programme for PS managers.  

Bio to follow

Ext: TBC
Email: PJ.Hemmaway@manchester.ac.uk
Office: TBC

The current priorities for the IT Directorate include developing a digital and IT strategy for the University, delivering the IT modernisation programme and gaining value through the exploitation of technology, and delivering efficient and effective IT services.

Patrick has recently returned to his home city of Manchester following 15 years working in IT leadership roles in the UAE.

He most recently spent the last 11 years at the New York University Abu Dhabi, a partnership between New York University and the Abu Dhabi government. Patrick held the positions of Executive Director and Director of IT Operations leading the development of the IT function from start up, growing to a community of over 7,000 on a campus of 28 buildings, covering over 15 hectares.

In 2015 Patrick also provided technology guidance and start up advice to thaki.org, a social impact non-profit organisation that distributes donated second hand computer devices to support refugee and vulnerable children to access digital technology and tools.

Ext: 56022
Email: sinead.hesp@manchester.ac.uk
Office: 1.001, John Owens Building

Sinéad has worked for the University since 2010, focussing on employment matters and also with a wider involvement including governance matters.  Prior to joining the University, Sinéad had over 10 years of experience working as a solicitor with Mills and Reeve, LLP. 

The Directorate provides legal advice on all aspects of the University’s activities, including: Employment/HR; Information Governance; Student matters; Estates; Procurement; IT; State Aid; Transactions; and also provides the secretariat and support to the University’s Board of Governors.

Sinéad is a member of the Planning and Resources Committee, the Gift Oversight Group and other wide-ranging working groups. She advises the Board on legal matters and supports a range of initiatives and projects.

Current priorities for the Directorate of Legal Affairs and Board Secretariat

To provide legal support on a range of University activities and initiatives including:

• Compliance matters, including information security/data protection, cyber security, FOI, health and safety and freedom of speech;
• Disputes and litigation;
• Employment matters;
• Estates and Procurement issues, including development of the North Campus and Fallowfield Campus;
• Information governance;
• Intellectual Property;
• IT modernisation;
• Major corporate projects;
• Manchester 2020 Programme;
• Student matters.

To provide secretariat support and governance advice to the Board of Governors, Board committees, and General Assembly. Current priorities include:

• Review of Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations following the 2017 external review of governance effectiveness (this includes a review of the current role of General Assembly) and liaison as required with the Privy Council.
• Ensuring effective and optimal Board processes , including presentation of information, to facilitate Board oversight and scrutiny
• Review and update of the University Policy Framework to ensure consistency and comprehensiveness
• Effective support and facilitation of electoral processes to University bodies

Email: eleanor.morrissey@manchester.ac.uk

Eleanor joined the University in September 2024 and is a leading human resources professional with experience of successful leadership over 28 years. This has included being Global HR Director at Genus Plc - a FTSE 250 biotech company, the Cooperative and the Aspire Group - a commercial business that provides housing, training, and neighbourhood and business services.

Throughout her career she has had a strong focus on data and technology, leading numerous initiatives, leading to more efficient working patterns for staff and smoother processes for people across the organisations.

As well as these roles, Eleanor has also been the Chair of The Gingerbread Centre - a homelessness charity supporting families across Staffordshire – where she worked to improve governance and developed a new strategy.

Eleanor holds an MA in Strategic Human Resources Management and has been a fellow of the CIPD for over 15 years.

Ext: 51573
Email: simon.merrywest@manchester.ac.uk
Office: Rutherford Building

Simon is responsible for managing many of the student facing administrative services at The University of Manchester, including student recruitment and international development; student admissions and administration; campus life services; teaching and learning support; residential services; and student development and community engagement.

Dr Simon Merrywest received a Bachelor’s degree in Anatomical Sciences from the University of Dundee and went on to complete a Neuroscience PhD at the University of St Andrews. He remained in St Andrews for several years, undertaking a variety of research, administrative and teaching roles in the School of Biology.

Simon joined the newly formed University of Manchester in October 2004 as a Research Business Manager in the Faculty of Life Sciences, progressing to head up the Faculty’s research administration and planning activities. Simon became Deputy Head of Faculty Administration in April 2007 and Director of Faculty Operations in January 2011. He took up the post of Director of Faculty Operations for the newly formed Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health in August 2016, before moving to become the Director for the Student Experience in October 2017.

Ext: TBC
Email: elizabeth.micakovic@manchester.ac.uk

Beth has more than fifteen years of experience in Higher Education, beginning her career as a lecturer at the Faculty of American and English Studies at the University of Salzburg, Austria. Following the completion of her PhD in English Literature at the University of Exeter, she worked in research management within The National Archives before being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor’s Policy Officer at the University of Greenwich. Previously to working at the University, Beth was Head of Strategic Development at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.  

Bios to follow

Ext: 64920
Email: christopher.pressler@manchester.ac.uk
Office: Blue 1.10, Main Library

Chris has previously been Director of Libraries at the University of London, University Librarian and Director of E-Learning at the University of Nottingham and Dean of Libraries at Dartington College of Arts. He has contributed to many boards and collaborative programmes in the UK, Ireland and in Europe for more than fifteen years and brings to Manchester particular interests in open scholarship, digital technologies and special collections.

In recent years, Christopher has authored the UK’s National Digitisation Review for Research Libraries UK (RLUK) and for Ireland’s Consortium of National and University Libraries, the first strategy for all of Ireland’s research libraries ‘Ireland’s Memory, Ireland’s Discovery.’

At London he co-edited two monographs on rare books and special collections, and for six years was the Chair of Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts. At Nottingham he established the UK’s Centre for Research Communications and recently launched DCU Press, Ireland’s first open access university press.

Christopher is also the co-founder and co-chair of DART-Europe, the portal to over 600 European universities’ doctoral e-theses from 28 countries.

At Manchester he leads one of only five National Research Libraries in the UK, which contains more than four million printed books and manuscripts, over 41,000 electronic journals and 500,000 electronic books, as well as several hundred databases, making it one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country.

As Director of the John Rylands Library he is responsible for one of the UK’s most historic and beautiful libraries, which contains one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts. As one of the University’s cultural institutions more than 250,000 people visit and engage with the Library each year.

Email: carol.prokopyszyn@manchester.ac.uk
Office: G.018, John Owens Building

Carol has made a significant impact within Higher Education, including at the University of Dundee, Loughborough University and the University of Leicester, navigating the financial complexities of our sector, ensuring financial sustainability, and most recently, leading a significant financial turn-around programme.  This included completing the £300m Tay Cities Deal in partnership with local councils and a focus on sustainable financial investments.   

Ext: 63772
Email: mark.rollinson@manchester.ac.uk
Office: John Owens 1.030

Mark took up post as Deputy Secretary in July 2017.  As Deputy Secretary, Mark provides advice and guidance to officers and senior managers on University policies, compliance with relevant legislation and has oversight of the University's governance structure. Reporting to the Director of Legal Affairs and Board Secretariat, Mark provides support to the Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer in his duties as University Secretary. Mark has lead responsibility both for the provision of administrative support for the governance of the University and for the operation and secretariat functions of the University's statutory bodies and committees.

After spending the early part of his career in local government, Mark has over 25 years’ experience in higher education administration and management. The bulk of this time was spent at the University of Salford, where he served for seven years as Head of Governance Services and Deputy Secretary and for two years as University Secretary. After leaving Salford, Mark had a brief spell as a consultant where he carried out a review of effectiveness of the governing body of a London university. Before joining Manchester, Mark was Deputy Secretary at the University of Bradford.

Mark has an undergraduate degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford and a Masters qualification in Education Management from Manchester Metropolitan University. He has also obtained the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators qualification.

Mark is married with three daughters and lives near Longridge in Lancashire; a Londoner by birth, he is a lifelong supporter of Leyton Orient Football Club.

Ext: 50282
Email: hannah.rundle@manchester.ac.uk
Office: 176 Waterloo Place

Hannah Rundle is Director of Faculty Operations for Humanities. She provides leadership for the Professional Services team across the Faculty, promoting and advancing the vision and strategic of the University to provide outstanding teaching, learning and student experience, research excellence, and a proactive social responsibility agenda. She is responsible for advising and supporting the Dean and Faculty Executive, and for playing a proactive role in the University Professional Services Leadership Team. As well as delivering significant Faculty change initiatives, the Director of Faculty Operations leads and contributes to major institutional change projects and reviews and capital projects.

Previously Hannah was Director of College Operations for the College of Humanities at the University of Exeter having previously undertaken roles at Exeter in external relations, graduate education and academic services. Prior to joining the University of Exeter, Hannah worked at the University of Oxford.

Ext: 52050
Email: julian.skyrme@manchester.ac.uk
Office: 186 Waterloo Place

Current priorities for the Directorate of Social Responsibility include playing a lead role in the origination and development of the University’s strategy on social responsibility (in collaboration with the Vice-President and President and Vice-Chancellor) and providing expert advice, research and support to key members of the Senior Leadership Team – chiefly the Vice-President for Social Responsibility, the President and Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. 

Julian also leads on the annual Planning Cycle for social responsibility, the development and implementation of internal and external communications and marketing strategies for social responsibility and managing high-profile internal and external events relating to social responsibility, including annual Making a Difference Awards and a Community Festival.

Dr Julian Skyrme is a qualified secondary teacher and spent his early career in a large state Sixth Form College as Head of Social Sciences and later as Assistant Vice-Principal/Senior Tutor. He has worked in higher education since 2001, becoming the University’s first Head of Widening Participation in the newly merged institution in 2004, and the first full-time Director of Social Responsibility in 2013.

Julian is passionate about the social purpose and benefits of higher education and has advised on a number of national policy groups and committees, including for the DfE, HEFCE, OFFA, UCAS, SPA and BIS. Locally, Julian represents the University on Manchester City Council’s Strategic Education Partnership Board and Homeless Partnership Board. He also volunteers as a Governor on the Board of Loreto Sixth Form College in the Moss Side/Hulme area and as a Director and Trustee of MACC – the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector support organisation for the city of Manchester.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, occasional musician, frequent cyclist, lifetime Manchester United and Wales fan, husband and father to two young children.

Ext: 52069
Email: andrew.m.walsh@manchester.ac.uk
Office: Research Office, 2nd Floor, Christie Building

Andrew Walsh has worked at the University of Manchester since 2002. He initially held the post of Head of Research Policy in the University Research Office and was heavily involved in coordinating the University’s submission to RAE2008 (and part-seconded to HEFCE as a panel secretary). In 2011 he was appointed to head up the newly formed Directorate of Research and Business Engagement Support Services (RBESS) and led the process to integrate a range of cognate, but previously separate, activities into a single whole.